OMAHA – The Hays Eagles Senior American Legion baseball team closed out the Battle of Omaha with an 11-2 win over the Salina (OK) Wildcats Wednesday morning.
The Eagles (9-4) used a six-run second and a four-run third inning to cruise to the run-rule victory.
Hays’ Derrick Riggs got the scoring started in the bottom of the second with a sacrifice fly to make it 1-0. A second run came into score on the throw making it 2-0.
After back-to-back walks, Brady Kreutzer singled in a run for a 3-0 lead. Hays then scored on an error and a Garrett Wellbrock single making it 5-0. Dalton Dale’s RBI single in the next at bat put Hays up 6-0.
With two outs in the bottom of the third inning the Eagles took advantage of several Wildcat miscues.
In the four-run inning the Eagles loaded the bases on a hit-by-pitch and then scored on a hit-by-pitch. Hays plated two more runs on an error by the third baseman and then with the bases loaded Dale walked to give Hays the 10-0 lead.
The Eagles added their 11th run in the bottom of the fourth on a fielder’s choice.
Salina got two runs back in the top of the fifth but Hays earned the 11-2 win.
Brady Kreutzer drove in a pair of runs for Hays.
Dalton Dale earned the win. He allowed two runs on five hits with five strikeouts in five innings.
Hays finished 3-1 in at the Battle of Omaha.